As a driver, Schumacher won five NHRA event titles, including the 1970 NHRA U.S. Nationals, however
his greatest achievements in the sport have come as a team owner. Schumacher walked away from the
sport in 1974 and focused on building his battery business, Schumacher Electric. The Chicago native
returned to the sport in 1998 with son Tony as driver of a Top Fuel dragster and since then
Schumacher's win total has soared to more than 200 victories. He has built one of the biggest teams
in NHRA competition, currently fielding three Top Fuel dragsters and four Funny Cars in the NHRA
Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

He was a first ballot selection by an international panel of motorsports journalists and
historians. His son Tony, who has won 71 event titles and claimed seven NHRA Top Fuel world
championships at the controls of the U.S. Army dragster, introduced his father for induction into
the prestigious Hall.

"This is such a great honor," Don said. "I was overwhelmed just to be nominated. This is really
overwhelming."

Schumacher's legacy in the sport will be remembered for bringing a business approach to drag
racing, and for the many safety innovations he helped develop. A fierce match racer in the late
1960s and early '70s, he was one of the first drivers to secure sponsorship for his race teams. His
Stardust and Wonder Bread Funny Cars are still among the most recognizable machines in NHRA
history. In the pit area, he developed many engine, clutch and aerodynamic enhancements. Perhaps
his most significant contribution to safety was his roof-mounted escape hatch, which has long been
a mandatory requirement for every Funny Car.

Schumacher is the only team owner in NHRA history to win both nitro championships in the same
season. He has accomplished that feat twice, in 2005 with son Tony (Top Fuel) and Gary Scelzi
(Funny Car) and in 2012 with Antron Brown (Top Fuel) and Jack Beckman (Funny Car). In all,
Schumacher owns 203 NHRA victories and 11 world championship titles.